Are you a preschool teacher looking for simple, effective activities that can be adapted to all levels in your class? The memory game is one of the most versatile educational tools available — and it's often underutilized.
Here's how to make the most of it.
1. Why the memory game is perfect for preschool
The memory game simultaneously engages:
- Visual memory — remembering card positions
- Concentration — staying attentive during others' turns
- Vocabulary — naming images aloud
- Fine motor skills — gently flipping cards
- Emotion management — accepting not finding a pair
It's rare for a single tool to work on so many skills at once.
2. Adapting rules by age group
Petite section (3 years old):
- Start with only 6 to 8 pairs
- Leave all cards visible initially, then progressively turn them over
- Play as a group, without the concept of a "winner"
Moyenne section (4 years old):
- 10 to 12 pairs, cards face down from the start
- Introduce taking turns
- Encourage children to name the card before turning it over
Grande section (5-6 years old):
- 16 to 20 pairs
- Full rules with scoring
- Variation: the child who finds a pair must make a sentence with the word
3. Bilingual memory game in class
A bilingual memory game like MEMORA fits perfectly into a foreign language discovery sequence. Each pair associates the image, the French word, and the word in the foreign language.
Possible uses:
- Monday ritual: 15 minutes of bilingual memory game in small groups
- Autonomous play corner: children play freely during workshops
- Vocabulary sequence: introduce 5 new words, then play memory to reinforce them
- Informal assessment: observe which children spontaneously name the cards
4. Educational variations
- Auditory memory: the teacher says the word, children find the corresponding card
- Cooperative memory: the whole class plays together against the clock
- Giant memory: print cards in large format and play on the floor
- Narrative memory: when a child finds a pair, they invent a sentence or mini-story with the two words
5. Integration into the curriculum
The memory game naturally fits into the domains of the preschool curriculum:
- Mobilizing language in all its dimensions — naming, describing, telling stories
- Exploring the world — categorizing, associating, classifying
- Acting, expressing oneself, understanding through artistic activities — visual recognition
6. Practical tips
- Laminate cards for maximum durability
- Store pairs in small numbered bags for easy tidying
- Always start with a collective presentation of the images before the first game
- Rotate in small groups of 2 to 4 children maximum to maintain attention
Conclusion
The memory game is not just a game — it's a complete, adaptable educational tool that children will ask for again and again. In a preschool class, it can be used daily without ever getting boring, by varying the rules, groups, and objectives. And in its bilingual version, it opens a window to the world from a young age. 🎴
MEMORA is available in French-English and French-Turkish. Ideal for preschool classes and families. 👉 [See MEMORA on wordbridgeco.com]
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